Doll with phonograph



March 1966 E. c. FREEMAN ETAL 3,239,229

DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 March 8, 19663,239,229

E. C. FREEMAN ETAL DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 2, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 2 F/G. 4 f6 IN V EN TOR5 March 1966 E. c. FREEMAN ETAL3,239,229

DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 2, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 F/ 6/4 W [RA/i257 a. fXffMA/V March 1966 E. c. FREEMAN ETAL 3,239,229

DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 2, 1961 Ell] March 8,1966 E. c. FREEMAN ETAL 3,239,229

DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 2, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. /2 H613/8-% ire @4 '\\\\\\\\\\E- F l6 INVENTORS United States Patent 3,239,229DOLL WITH PHONOGRAPI-I Ernest C. Freeman, Goldens Bridge, and Robert W.Freeman, Hawthorne, N.Y., assignors to Sevres Corpora tion, Brooklyn,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 152,373 14Claims. (Cl. 2741) This application is a continuation-in part of ourprevious application, Serial No. 95,864, filed March 15, 1961, entitled,Doll With Phonograph, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a doll provided with a phonograph sothat the doll can speak, and to a phonograph construction and controlsystem specially adapted thereto.

So-called talking dolls have in the main been provided with simplesound-producing devices capable of producing relatively elementarysounds which, while simulating such words as Mamma, fall far short ofthe actual speech and vocabulary of children. To cure this defect it hasbeen proposed that the doll be provided with a phonograph adapted toreproduce a record carrying more sophisticated words and phrases. Suchphonographs as have been designed for use in dolls, however, have leftmuch to be desired, not only in the way of fidelity of soundreproduction but also in the manner of use and control thereof, and inthe life and flexibility of operation thereof. In many instances themanner of manipulation of the phonograph has required such actions asthe pulling out and releasing of a cord which leads into the doll body.This type of manipulation is obviously unnatural, detracts from theattractiveness and realistic nature of the doll itself, and is by itsvery nature subject to damage.

It is the prime object of the present invention to provide a truetalking doll which is not subject to the above disadvantages and which,more specifically, may be provided with a virtually unlimited vocabularywhich it can speak with high fidelity and appropriate volume, andwherein the control of the speech is accomplished in a simple andeffective manner which in no way detracts from the appearance andrealistic nature of the doll. It is a further prime object of thepresent invention to provide a phonograph for a (1011 which is not onlycomparatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, but which is alsocapable of reliable use over a long period of time.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a controlsystem for a phonograph of the type under discussion by means of whichspeech may be initiated at will and terminated or interrupted either atwill or automatically when the prepared speech recorded on the recordhas come to an end. In accordance with the preferred embodiment heredisclosed, speech is initiated by actuating a manual control elementsuch as a button, which is inconspicuously mounted and may be hiddenbeneath the clothes of the doll, and speech is interrupted by changingthe spatial attitude of the doll, as by moving its body from an uprightposition to a reclining position. This provides a very effectivesimulation of true life, the doll talking until it is put to sleep andthen starting to talk again as soon as it wakes, and either beginningits speech all over again or picking up where it left oil, dependingupon the desires of the youthful user in control.

The construction of the phonograph itself is simplified in order toreduce its cost, weight and size, so that it may be incorporated into adoll body of normal size and without adding excessively to the expensethereof, but this relative miniaturization and simplification isaccomplished without any major sacrifice in sound reproducing ability,either with regard to fidelity or volume, to the end that the dollnevertheless speaks in a loud and clear manner. The design is such as tofacilitate initial assembly and adjustment to compensate for wear.

A feature of the construction of the present invention involves the useof a battery-powered electric motor to drive the phonograph, thebatteries being readily replaceable as they become depleted. Means areprovided for retaining the batteries in position and, in a preferredembodiment, means are provided for ensuring that proper electricalconnection is made to the batteries under all circumstances. The motordrive is so mounted as to produce optimum operation of the phonographwith the application of but a minimal amount of torque from the motor,thereby making for fidelity of reproduction and long battery life. Inaddition, the record used may readily be replaced by another, so thatthe doll may be provided with a virtually unlimited vocabulary and witha plurality of different types of talks, all selectively useable.

According to one feature of the present invention the stylus which isadapted to cooperate with the record is constrained between and insimultaneous engagement with the record and a vibratile wall part whichconstitutes the sound-producing diaphragm. When thus constrained thestylus moves along the reproducing groove in the record from one endthereof to the other as the record is rotated. When the stylus reachesthe end of the groove it automatically turns off the motor driving therecord. To start the doll talking again the record is moved away fromthe stylus, thus releasing the constraint previously exerted upon thestylus and permitting the stylus to move outwardly to a pointcorresponding to the beginning of the record, the stylus being biased tothus move when the aforementioned constraint is no longer eflective.When the stylus moves to this outer position the record is again drivenin rotation, and when the record is released it again restrains thestylus between itself and the diaphragm, the stylus then tracking therecord and repro ducing the sound recorded therein as it again movesinwardly. The vibrations of the stylus, produced by the record groovewhich it tracks, are transmitted to the diaphragm against which thestylus is pressed, that diaphragm transducing those vibrations intoaudible sound of appreciable intensity.

Means are provided for releasably retaining the record in its positionremote from the stylus, thus preventing damage to the stylus while thedoll is being shipped or while it is subjected to violent play.

As here specifically disclosed the circuit to the motor which drives therecord in rotation includes a normally closed switch which is adapted tobe opened by the stylus when the latter moves inwardly to the end of therecord. The biased outward movement of the stylus, permitted when therecord itself is moved so as to no longer constrain the stylus betweenthe record and the diaphragm, causes that switch to resume its normallyclosed position, thus again causing the record to rotate. In order tomake the phonograph attitude-sensitive, thereby to permit production ofsound to be interrupted if the doll is, for example, moved from erect toreclining position, an attitude-sensitive switch is included in themotor circuit in series with the switch controlled by the stylus.Movement of the phonograph to a predetermined attitude, such as onecorresponding to a reclining position of the doll, will cause thisswitch to open. If the phonograph is not operating this will have noeffect. However, if the phonograph is operating it will de-energize thedriving motor and the phonograph will stop. When the normal attitude ofthe phonograph is resumed the attitude-sensitive switch will againclose, and the production of sound will be resumed at the very :pointwhere it had been interrupted. Restoration of the stylus to its positioncorresponding to the beginning of the record can be accomplished at anytime, whether the record has been completely reproduced or not.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a doll containing aphonograph, and to the construction of a phonograph and a control systemtherefor specially adapted for use in a doll, all as defined in theappended claims and as described in this specification, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-quarter front perspective view of a doll provided withthe phonograph of the present invention, the doll being shown in aseated position, with its body erect;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the doll with its body ina reclining position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the doll phonograph;

FIGS. 4, and 6 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 44, 5-5and 6-6 of FIG. 3 respectively, FIG. 6 including a showing of the dollbody within which the phonograph is mounted;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the dollbody with the cover plate removed, illustrating the manner in whichaccess may be had to the phonograph for the replacement of a record orthe energizing batteries;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the phonograph record driving shaftand associated parts;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a specifically differentarrangement for the mounting of the driving motor;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing a third arrangement forthe mounting of the driving motor;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but with a removable body wallportion of modified construction in place;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1313 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on an enlarged scale,of the doll body and illustrating the use of a resilient safety member;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a detail cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of amodified arrangement for the journaling of the record driving shaft; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper part of FIG. 8 andshowing an optional arrangement for the mounting of a record on thedriving means therefor.

Having reference first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the phonograph ofthe present invention is specially adapted to be retained within thebody of the doll, such as the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the doll bodygenerally designated 2 having a front wall 4 and a rear wall 6, thephonograph itself, generally designated A, being mounted in a hollowspace between the front and rear body walls 4 and 6. Those walls areprovided with a plurality of openings 8 so that the sound produced bythe phonograph can escape from the interior of the doll body 2. Thefront wall 4 is also provided with an opening 10 through which the stud12 of a button 14 extends. A spring 16 is compressed between the buttonhead 14 and the wall 4 so as to tend to urge the button outwardly, thatoutward movement being limited by a washer 18 pressed onto the buttonstud 12 in the interior of the body 2.

The phonograph A comprises a three-sided housing having side walls 20and an end wall 22, preferably formed of insulating material. The top ofthe housing is substantially closed by means of a vibratile wall 24which constitutes the sound-producing diaphragm of the phonograph.Mounted between the side walls 20 at the end thereof opposite from theend wall 22 is a block 26 of insulating material provided with a pair ofcylindrical recesses 28 adapted to receive dry cell batteries 30 of theflashlight type. The vibratile wall 24 is provided with openings 32registering with the recesses 28, through which portions of thebatteries 30 are adapted to extend. Appropriate terminals 34 passthrough the bottom of the block 26 and into the recesses 28, where theyare adapted to make electrical cont-act with appropriate terminals ofthe batteries 30 in conventional fashion. Pivotally secured to the sidewalls 20, as by the screws 36 (which may also serve to retain the block26 in position), is a conductive strap 38 adapted to extend over andengage the upper ends of the batteries 30 when they are received withinthe recesses 28, thereby to releasably retain the batteries 30 inposition and to electrioally connect the battery terminals exposed atthe upper ends thereof. The batteries are designed to be connected inseries between the terminals 34 by means of the strap 38. As may best beseen in FIG. 4, the strap 38 may be provided with spring leaves 40 whichdirectly engage the batteries 38 when the strap 38 is in its operativeposition as shown. When the batteries are to be replaced the strap 38 isswung downwardly as viewed in FIG. 4, thereby to expose the upper endsof the batteries 30 and permit their removal from the recesses 28.

A supporting block generally designated 42 is mounted within the housingon the end wall 22, as by the screws 44. This block may be formed in onepiece of a suitable plastic material, and comprises a first part 46 anda second part 48 which extend alongside one another, separated by thespace 50 and connected by the integral resilient neck portion 52.Secured to the part 46, which extends down below the part 48 as viewedin FIG. 3, is a DC. electric motor 54 having a shaft 56 which extendsupwardly therefrom. The motor is provided with a pair of terminals 58and 60.

As may perhaps best be seen from FIG. 4, the supporting block part 48 isprovided with a through aperture 62 lined with a bronze bushing 64. Arecord driving shaft 66 is rotatably journaled in the bushing 64 andextends beyond both ends thereof. As may best be seen from FIG. 8, theshaft 66 comprises a main portion 68 the lower end of which is providedwith an axially extending internally threaded aperture 70. The upper end72 of the shaft 66 is of reduced diameter and is externally threaded atleast along its upper portion. A shoulder 74 is provided between theshaft portion 68 and 72. A disk 76, which may be formed of suitableplastic material, is adapted to rest on the shoulder 74. The disk 76 isprovided withan outer flange portion 78 on which a resilient ring 80 ismounted, the ring being held in place by a plate 82, which may also beformed of plastic material, received on the upper surface of the disk 76and secured thereto in any appropriate manner, as by cementing. The diskassembly, comprising the elements 76, 78, 80 and 82, is clamped fast onthe shaft 66 by means of bushing 84 threadedly received on the uppershaft portion 72, the upper portion of the bushing 84 having a flange 86and a raised central portion 88. The phonograph record, generallydesignated 90, is adapted to rest on the flange 86, with the raisedportion 88 entering the central aperture of the record, and is adaptedto be made fast with the bushing 84 and shaft 66 by means of clampingnut 92 threadedly received on the upper shaft end 72. A resilient washer94 may be interposed between the clamping nut 92 and the record 90. Inorder to rigidify the record 90, for reasons which will hereinafter bemade apparent, the upper surface of the record preferably has appliedthereto a rigidifying disk 96 of metal or the like, the lower surface ofthe record 90 being provided with a sound-producing groove.

The lower end of the shaft portion 68 extends below the bushing 62, anda compression spring 98 is received therearound, that spring being heldin compression against the bushing 64 or the support part 58 by means ofa washer 100 held in place by a screw 102 threadedly received within theshaft aperture 70. The shaft 66 is permitted a limited degree of axialmovement within the bushing 64, as well as being rotatable thereon. Thethreads in the aperture 70 and on the externally threaded shaft portion72 are lefthanded in nature, so that the parts threadedly receivedthereon will not tend to unscrew during operation of the device.

The shaft 66 and the shaft 56 are so located as to bring the resilientring 80 carried by the shaft 66 into frictional engagement with themotor shaft 56, so that rotation of the latter will be imparted to theformer, thereby rotating the record 90. In order to permit thisfrictional engagement to be adjusted, both at the time of initialassembly and to compensate for wear after the phonograph has been inuse, the support part 43 is provided with an internally threadedaperture 104 registering with an aperture 106 in the part 46, a screw108 passing through the aperture 106 and being threadedly receivedwithin the aperture 104. Turning of the screw 108 will cause the part 48to move toward or away from the part 46, bending the resilient neck 52,in order to control and adjust the frictional engagement between theshaft 56 and the ring 80. The side wall 20 is provided with an aperture110 providing access to the screw 100 for adjustment purposes.

The record-carrying bushing 84 extends up beyond the vibratile Wall part24 through an aperture 112 in the wall part 24, the record 90 thereforeextending above and spaced from the wall part 24. The record reproducingstylus 114 is located between the record 90 and the wall part 24, beingcarried by arm 116. The pointed tip of the stylus 114 extends upwardlyfrom the arm 116 so as to engage the sound groove in the lower surfaceof the record 90, while the other end of the stylus 114 extends towardand engages the wall 24, the area of engagement between the stylus 114and the wall 24 being along portions of the wall 24 which areunsupported and hence free to vibrate. The stylus-carrying arm 116 ispivotally mounted, as by screw 118, on projection 120, and is pro videdwith an angularly extending part 122 having an extension 124 whichextends down through aperture 126 formed in the vibratile wall 24 to aposition below that wall. There the extension 124 engages a pair of leafspring 127 and 128 mounted on block 130 on the inside of the side wall20. The spring 128 is active upon extension 124 so as to tend to pivotthe stylus arm 116 outwardly, the outward movement thereof being limitedby appropriate stop means, such as the edge 131 of the aperture 126, toa position corresponding to the outer end of the groove in the record90.

The spring 127 exerts a similar biasing action upon the stylus arm 116,but its primary purpose is to function as a motor-controlling switchsensitive to the position of the stylus arm 116. To that end it isresiliently biased into engagement with screw 132 and is designed toremain in engagement therewith, as the stylus arm 116 moves inwardlyrelative to the record 90, until that stylus 116 reaches a positioncorresponding to the end of the sound groove on the record 90, at whichtime the spring 127 is lifted from the screw 132.

The electric circuit for the motor 54 extends from one of the terminals34 via lead 135 to terminal 137 electrically connected to the spring127, then via screw 132 and conductive strip 134 mounted on the outsideof the side wall 20 to mounting clip 136 which extends through the wall20 and carries a mercury switch 138 on the interior of the housing. Theterminal 140 of the mercury switch is connected by lead 142 to the motorterminal 58, and the other motor terminal 60 is connected by lead 144 tothe other battery terminal 34. The mercury switch 133 is mounted in aninclined position such that a circuit will be completed therethroughwhen the phonograph is supported in one attitude, such as thatcorresponding to a substantially erect position of the doll body 2, andso that 6 the circuit therethrough will be opened when the phonograph isin a different attitude, such as one corresponding to a recliningposition of the doll body 2.

The phonograph A may be mounted in the doll body in any appropriatemanner, as by means of screws 146 passing through the front wall 4 ofthe doll body and engaging with an internally threaded aperture 148 inthe block 26 and a bracket 150 secured to the end wall 22. When thephonograph is mounted in the body 2, the screw 102 at the end of theshaft 66 will be in line with and engage with the stud 12 of the button14.

In order to provide access to the phonograph for replacement of thebatteries 30 or changing of the record 20, a portion 6a of the rear bodywall 6 may be removed, that portion 6a resting on the supporting ledge152, there to be secured by means of screws 154.

The operation of the phonograph is as follows. The action of the spring93 tends to draw the shaft 66 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, therecord then engaging the stylus 114 and pressing it against the wallpart 24 with a force sufficient to cause vibrations of the stylus 114 tobe transmitted to the wall part 24, but without preventing slidingmovement of the stylus 114 over the wall part 24. The rigidifying disk96 ensures that this will take place throughout the travel of the stylus114. The normal position of the stylus 114, when the phonograph is notin operation, will be at the inner end of the record groove, the circuitto the motor 54 being open by reason of the fact that the spring 127 hasbeen moved away from the screw 132. The stylus is resiliently urgedoutwardly by means of springs 127 and 120, but it cannot move in thatdirection because the action of the spring 98 keeps the tip of thestylus 114 in the record groove, and thus constrains it from movingoutwardly.

When reproduction of the record is desired it is necessary only to pushin on the button 14 momentarily. This moves the shaft 66 and the record90 to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, releasing the stylus 114 from theconstraint which held it against the wall part 24 and in the recordgroove. The stylus 114 will swing outwardly to its stopped positioncorresponding to the beginning of the record groove, the spring 127engages the screw 132, the circuit to the motor 54 is closed, and therecord 90 is rotated. When the button 14 is released the spring 98 movesthe shaft 66 to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, and the record 90 againengages the stylus 114 and presses it against the wall 24. Since therecord is rotating the tip of the stylus is engaged by the record grooveand tracks that groove, the vibrations imparted thereto beingtransmitted to the wall 24, which functions as a diaphragm convertingthose vibrations into audible sound of appreciable volume. Reproductionof the record continues until the stylus 114 has moved inwardly farenough for the spring 127 to be lifted from the screw 132, at which timethe motor 54 is de-energized and reproduction ceases.

The above explanation is applicable only when the doll body 2 is in anattitude such that a circuit is completed through the attitude-sensitivemercury switch 138. If, while the record is being reproduced, the dollis moved to an attitude such as to open the circuit through the mercuryswitch 138, as if it is moved to a reclining position as shown in FIG.2, the motor will be de-energized and reproduction will cease. Thestylus will, however,

' remain in whatever position relative to the record groove it findsitself, and when the doll body is again moved to an erect attitude thecircuit through the mercury switch 138 will be re-established and soundreproduction of of the record )0 will resume where it left off.

If it is desired that sound reproduction recommence from the beginningafter the doll has been moved from a reclining attitude to an erectattitude, it is necessary only that the button 14 be depressed while thedoll is reclining, thus releasing the stylus 114 for lateral movementback to the beginning of the record. If desired, this recom- '2mencement of reproduction of the record from the begining can be madeautomatic by so relating the weight of the shaft 66 and the partsconnected thereto to the strength of the spring 98 as to cause the shaft66 to move to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 by its own weight Wheneverthe doll reclines.

Since the body of the doll will be covered by clothing there will benothing visible from the exterior thereof to mar its natural andrealistic appearance, nor need any unnatural acts, such as the pullingout and releasing of a string, be performed to cause the doll to talk.All that need to be done is apply light and momentary pressure to thechest area of the dolls so as to depress the button 14.

FIGS. 9 and 10 disclose alternate arrangements for the adjustablemounting of the motor 54 and its shaft 56. Instead of using the unitarysupporting block 42 of the previous embodiment for the mounting both ofthe motor 54 and the record driving shaft 66, in the embodiments ofFIGS. 9 and 10 those two elements are independently mounted on thehousing. In both embodiments the housing has a continuous side wall a.The record driving shaft 66 is journaled in bracket 160 which is fixedto the housing side wall 20a in any appropriate manner. In theembodiment of FIG. 9 the motor 54 is secured in any appropriate mannerto an arm 162 the end of which is rigidly secured to the housing sidewall 22 in any appropriate manner, as by the screws 164. In order toprovide for adjustable positioning of the motor 54, an adjustment screw166 is threadedly mounted in the housing wall 22, the screw 166 passingtherethrough and pressing against the free end of the arm 162, theinherent resiliency of the arm 162 causing it to tend to move toward thescrew 166.

In the preferred embodiment disclosed in FIG. 10, the motor 54 issecured in any appropriate manner to arm 168 which is freely pivotallymounted on bracket 170 at 172. The arm 168 is provided with an outwardlyextending projection 174 (see FIG. 11) about which one end ofcompression spring 176 is received, the other end of the spring 176entering recess 178 in the housing wall 20a and bearing against washer180 received therewithin. The washer 180 is adapted to be moved axiallywithin the recess 178 by adjusting screw 182 threadedly mounted inhousing wall 20a. Turning of the screw 182 will cause the axial positionof the washer .180 to vary, and this will change the pressure exerted bythe spring 176 on the arm 168. In this way the motor shaft 56 isresiliently urged against the periphery of the ring 80 with asubstantially constant and adjustable force but can accommodate itselfto irregularities in or non-concentricity of the outer surface of thering 80 as the latter is rotated. With this arrangement properfrictional connection between the motor shaft 56 and the ring 80 isachieved while reducing the torque requirements on the motor and thusminimizing current consumption.

Motor torque requirements can be further reduced by minimizing thefriction between the shaft 66 and the bushing 64 in which it isjournaled. As shown in FIG. 16, the shaft portion 68a received withinthe bushing 64 may, for the major portion of its length, be of slightlyreduced diameter, only the portions thereof at the ends of the bushing64 actually engaging the inner surface of that bushing.

It has been found that the spring leaves 40 which engage the batteriesand make electrical connection therewith tend after a time to becomebent and lose their resiliency, as a result of which the batteries 30are no longer firmly retained in position and electrical connectionthereto is sometimes broken. The magnitude of the problem involved canbe understood in light of the fact that dolls, in the course of beingplayed with, are often tossed about rather violently, and the weight ofthe batteries 30 acting against the spring leaves places a great deal ofstrain on the latter.

In order to ensure that the batteries 30 are retained in properposition, without rattling, and that electrical connection is reliablymade thereto, the modification disclosed in FIGS. 12 and 13 may be used.There the removable portion 6a of the rear body wall 6 is provided witha pair of inwardly projecting screws 184 which are threadedly receivedtherein, as in inwardly extending bosses 186. The strap 38a whichcarries the spring leaves 40 is defined by an insulating plate 188mounted on separated metallic pieces 190 to which the spring leaves 40are respectively connected. The insulating plate 188 and the metallicpieces 190 are provided with registering openings 192 over thebattery-engaging parts of the spring leaves 40, these apertures 192being so located that when the strap 38a is in operative position andwhen the rear body wall portion 6a is secured in place, the screws 184will extend through the openings 192 and will engage the upper surfacesof those portions of the spring leaves 40 which make electricalconnection with the batteries 30. Hence if the batteries 30 tend torattle or if the electrical connection thereto is not reliable, all thatneed be done is to tighten down on the screws 184. The passage of thosescrews through the apertures 192 positively prevents the strap 38a frommoving out of its operative position. However, when the rear body wallportion 6a is removed, the screws 184 are pulled out from the openings192, and the strap 38a can be moved to inoperative position to permitremoval and replacement of the batteries 30. If desired, an on-offswitch 193, connected in the electrical circuit for the motor 54, may becarried by the removable wall portion 6a.

It has been found that when dolls equipped with phonographs of the typeunder discussion are shipped they are often subjected to rough handling,which tends to damage the stylus 114 clamped between the record and thevibratile wall 24. The same sort of damage can occur while the doll isin use if it is subjected to extremely rough handling. It has been foundthat this type of damage can be eliminated if the stylus 114 is notclamped between the record 90 and the wall 24, as it usually is underthe influence of the spring 98. To this end, and as disclosed in FIGS.14 and 15, means are provided for releasably retaining the button 14 inits axially inwardly located position, thus moving the record drivingshaft 66 to the right as viewed 11 FIG. 4 and moving the record 90 awayfrom the stylus 114 and the vibratile wall 24. This may readily beaccomplished by using a resilient band 194 which surrounds the doll body2 while tensioned, and which is adapted to be received within a groove196 formed in the outer surface of the button 14. When the band 194 isthus engaged it will, because of its strength, move the button 14inwardly against the action of the spring 16 and it will also overpowerthe spring 98, thus moving the record driving shaft 66 to the right, therecord 90 being carried along therewith and hence unclamping the stylus114. When the phonograph is to be used the band 194 is disengaged fromthe button '14, and it may or may not be removed from the doll body 2,as desired. The band 194 can, of course, be used in the same manner todisable the phonograph when the doll is to be played with and thephonograph feature is not desired, thus permitting violent play with thedoll without damaging the phonograph.

In FIG. 17 an improved arrangement for mounting the record 90 on thedriving shaft 66 is disclosed. It is essentially similar to that shownin FIG. 8, except that the disk 96a is resiliently dished, its peripheryengaging the record 90, its inner portion being pressed downwardly bythe clamping nut 92, and a substantial part of the body thereof beingspaced from the record 90. The resilient action of the disk 96 locks theclamping nut 92 in place, and that portion of the body of the disk 96which is not in engagement with the end 90 acts as a sounding board forstylus-induced vibrations of the record 9 90, thus improving thereproduction qualities of the phonograph.

From the above it will be seen that the phonograph in question mayreadily be manufactured at relatively low cost, is reliable andeffective in operation, and is well adapted for its combination with adoll in order to produce a true talking doll with a vocabularycommensurate with its appearance.

While but a limited number of embodiments of the present invention havebeen here disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may bemade therein, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, asdefined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A record player comprising a housing having a vibratile wall partfixedly mounted thereon, a record-driving member rotatably mounted insaid housing and axially movable toward said wall part, biasing meansurging said member in a given direction toward said wall part, means formoving said member away from said wall part, stylus means in saidhousing adjacent said wall part and said member and adapted tosimultaneously engage said wall part and a record carried by saidmember, said stylus means being mounted in said housing for movement ina lateral direction substantially at right angles to said givendirection, thereby simultaneously to traverse a record carried by saidmember, and for limited movement in said given direction, thereby to beclamped between said wall part and a record carried by said member.

2. In the combination of claim 1, stop means operatively connected tosaid stylus means for preventing outward lateral movement thereof beyonda given position corresponding to the outer periphery of a recordadapted to be carried by said member, and means biasing said stylusmeans toward engagement with said stop means.

3. In combination with the record player of claim 2, an electric motoroperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, an energizingcircuit for said motor, and control means for said motor includingmanually actuatable first means for initiating the rotation of saidmember, second means sensitive to the position of said stylus means andeffective to open said motor circuit when said stylus means is movedlaterally inwardly to a predetermined position, and third meanssensitive to the attitude of said housing and effective to open saidmotor circuit when said housing assumes a predetermined attitude and toleave said motor circuit in its otherwise existing status when saidhousing assumes a different attitude.

4. In combination with the record player of claim 2, driving meansoperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, and controlmeans for said driving means including manually actuatable first meansfor initiating the rotation of said member, and second means forterminating the rotation thereof, said second means being sensitive tothe position of said stylus means and effective to terminate saidrotation of said member when said stylus means is moved laterallyinwardly to a predetermined position, said first means being operativelyconnected to said member and constituting, when actuated, said means formoving said member away from said wall part, thereby releasing saidstylus means for biased movement laterally outwardly.

5. In combination with the record player of claim 2, driving meansoperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, and controlmeans for said driving means including manually actuatable first meansfor initiating the rotation of said member, second means sensitive tothe position of said stylus means and effective to terminate saidrotation of said member when said stylus means is moved laterallyinwardly to a predetermined position, and third means sensitive to theattitude of said housing and effective to terminate said rotation ofsaid member when said housing assumes a predetermined attitude and topermit said member rotation when said housing assumes a differentattitude, said first means being operatively connected to said memberand constituting when actuated, said means for moving said member awayfrom said wall part, thereby releasing said stylus means for biasedmovement laterally outwardly.

6. In combination with the record player of claim 2, an electric motoroperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, an energizingcircuit for said motor, and control means for said motor includingmanually actuatable first means for initiating the rotation of saidmember, second means sensitive to the position of said stylus means andeffective to open said motor circuit when said stylus means is movedlaterally inwardly to a predetermined position, and third meanssensitive to the attitude of said housing and effective to open saidmotor circuit when said housing assumes a predetermined attitude and toleave said motor circuit in its otherwise existing status when saidhousing assumes a different at titude, said first means beingoperatively connected to said member and constituting, when actuated,said means for moving said member away from said wall part, therebyreleasing said stylus means for biased movement laterally outwardly.

7. The record player of claim 1, in which said stylus means comprises astylus and a holder therefor, said stylus being carried in said holderwith one end projecting therefrom toward and engageable with saidvibratile wall part and another end projecting therefrom in the oppositedirection and adapted to engage a record adapted to be carried by saidmember.

8. In combination with the record player of claim 1, driving meansoperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, and controlmeans for said driving means including manually actuatable first meansfor initiating the rotation of said member, and second means forterminating the rotation of said member, said second means beingsensitive to the attitude of said housing and eifective to terminatesaid member rotation when said housing assumes a predetermined attitudeand to permit said member rotation when said housing assumes a differentattitude.

9. In combination with the record player of claim 1, an electric motoroperatively connected to said member to rotate the latter, an energizingcircuit for said motor, and control means for said motor includingmanually actuatable first means for initiating the rotation of saidmember and second means for terminating the rotation thereof, saidsecond means being sensitive to the attitude of said housing andeffective to open said motor circuit when said housing assumes apredetermined attitude and to leave said motor circuit in its otherwiseexisting status when said housing assumes a different attitude.

It) A record player comprising a support, a member rotatably mounted onsaid support and adapted to drive a record to be reproduced, a styluscooperable with and adapted to move across the record adapted to becarried by said member, driving means operatively connected to saidmember .to rotate the latter, and control means for said driving means,said control means com-- prising manually actuatable first means forinitiating the rotation of said member, second means sensitive to theposition of said stylus and effective to terminate said rotation of saidmember when said stylus is moved laterally inwardly to a predeterminedposition, and third means sensitive to the attitude of said support andeffective to terminate said rotation of said member when said supportassumes a first predetermined attitude and to permit rotation of saidmember when said housing assumes a second predetermined attitude.

11. A record player comprising a support, a member rotatably mounted onsaid support and adapted to drive a record to be reproduced, a styluscooperable with and adapted to move across the record adapted to becarried by said shaft, an electric motor operatively connected to saidmember to rotate the latter, an energizing circuit for said motor, andcontrol means for said motor, said control means comprising first meansfor initiating the rotation of said member, second means sensitive tothe position of said stylus and effective to open said motor circuitwhen said stylus is moved laterally inwardly to a predetermined positon,and third means sensitive to the attitude of said support and effectiveto open said motor circuit when said support assumes a firstpredetermined attitude and to close said motor circuit when said housingassumes a second predetermined attitude.

12. A record player comprising a base, first and second parts on saidbase, a first shaft rotatably mounted in one of said parts, a recorddriving member opcratively drivingly connected to said first shaft,transducing means adapted to engage a record carried by said drivingmember, a motor mouted in the other of said parts and having a secondshaft extending therefrom, engageable friction drive elementsoperatively carried by said shafts respectively, at least one of saidparts being movable toward and away from the other of said parts, andmeans operatively connected between said base and said one of said partsand effective .to move said one part, thereby to control the frictionalengagement between said drive elements, said one of said partscomprising a bendable arm rigidly connected at one end of said base andcarrying said motor adjacent the other end thereof.

13. A record player comprising a housing having a vibratile wall partfixedly mounted thereon, a recordcarrying shaft rotatably mounted insaid housing and axially movable toward said wall part, biasing meansurging said shaft axially toward said wall part, means for moving saidshaft axially away from said wall part, stylus means in said housingadjacent said wall part and said shaft and adapted to simultaneouslyengage said wall part and a record carried by said shaft, said stylusmeans being mounted in said housing independently of said wall part formovement in a lateral direction substantially at right angles to theaxis of said shaft, thereby simultaneously to traverse said wall partand a record carried by said shaft, and for limited movement in thedirection of said shaft axis, thereby to be clamped between said wallpart and a record carried by said shaft.

14. In the combination of claim 13, stop means operatively connected tosaid stylus means for preventing outward lateral movement thereof beyonda given point corresponding to the outer periphery of a record adaptedto be carried by said shaft, and means biasing said stylus means towardengagement with said stop means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,802 11/1932Jansen 274-9 1,979,068 10/1934 Grubman 274-1 2,020,119 11/1935 Langley274-1 2,161,148 6/1939 Erwood 2741 2,310,037 2/1943 Reno 200--61.52 X2,563,653 8/1951 Liugenboink 27439 2,780,466 2/1957 Like 2749 X2,809,843 10/1957 Mueller 27439 2,838,315 6/1958 Staar 27439 2,978,8364/1961 Kato 46-232 3,080,679 3/1963 Hardigan 46232 3,109,655 11/1963 Lea274--9 3,111,323 11/1963 Zimmermann et a1. 2749 NORTON ANSHER, PrimaryExaminer.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, RICHARD C. PINKHAM,

Examiners.

A. S. ALPERT, L. J. BOVASSO, C. B. PRICE,

Assislant Examiners.

1. A RECORD PLAYER COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A VIBRATILE WALL PARTFIXEDLY MOUNTED THEREON, A RECORD-DRIVING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED INSAID HOUSING AND AXIALLY MOVABLE TOWARD SAID WALL PART, BIASING MEANSURGING SAID MEMBER IN A GIVEN DIRECTION TOWARD SAID WALL PART, MEANS FORMOVING SAID MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID WALL PART, STYLUS MEANS IN SAIDHOUSING ADJACENT SAID WALL PART AND SAID MEMBER AND ADAPTED TOSIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGE SAID WALL PART AND A RECORD CARRIED BY SAIDMEMBER, SAID STYLUS MEANS BEING MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT INA LATERAL DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID GIVENDIRECTION, THEREBY SIMULTANEOUSLY TO TRANSVERSE A RECORD CARRIED BY SAIDMEMBER, AND FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION, THEREBY TO BECLAMPED BETWEEN SAID WALL PART AND A RECORD CARRIED BY SAID MEMBER.